Five PS3 games to help forget about the PSN outage

Captgoodnight_1a
Monday, May 09, 2011
EDITOR'S NOTEfrom Rob Savillo

Well, Sony's online service could be down for quite a long while still. Good thing Reggie's put together a competent list of PSN-independent titles to pass the network's downtime.

The PlayStation Network is still out for the count and could be down for a few more days. Some players are already going through withdrawal, especially those who picked up the new SOCOM or Portal 2 for PS3 and have been itching for a little online time with their friends and enemies.

But not every game has an invisible PSN umbilical that makes having fun impossible at the moment. Some titles might use the network for leaderboards, but we technically have plenty of options that still keep the single-player flame alive.

With PSN still a big question mark on the horizon, here are five games that you might not have thought about playing but will most definitely fill your hours with entertainment...at least until the network comes back up.


1) Valkyria Chronicles

You want tactics? A good story? An outstanding soundtrack? To play through a watercolor sketchpad? Then you probably should give Valkyria Chronicles a whirl. Although it can be harsh -- characters who fall in battle will permanently die if not rescued -- it's not unforgivingly so. And thanks to clever characterizations, don't be surprised to find yourself trying extra hardto keep even the grunts that sign on with your squad alive. For many who have played Valkyria Chronicles (like me), it's one of the reasons to own a PS3. It's fun from the opening shot to the final battle.

Valkyria Chronicles
Every character has her own bio and special abilities. Rosie, seen here, used to be a singer before she turned into a red-haired Rambo.
 

 

2) Yakuza 4

Sega's gangster-themed beat-em-up packs in character-upgrade elements and side quests that make it something of a modern-world, action role-playing game. In between the bodies that you'll be laying out in the street, you can also take time off from being a badass by singing karaoke with a rhythm-based minigame or encouraging your girls to look their best at a hostess club. Even though the Yakuza series is an over-the-top and fictional take on the Japanese underworld, it's also notable for using real-world brands and storefronts to give its streets and back alleys a little slice of authenticity...right before you use a golf club to birdie punks into the gutter.

Yakuza 4
Tanimura, one of the characters in Yakuza 4, is actually a cop. But like the others, he breaks punks apart with pugilistic intensity...and a style that is impetuous. Sorry, I couldn't resist.
 


3) Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection

Why stop at one game when you can turn your PS3 into a retro arcade with this awesome collection from Sega's Genesis? It's got RPGs, shooters, Sonic originals, and beat-em-ups from the days when blast processing was king and Sega did what Nintendon't. On top of the forty titles initially available, a slew of unlockable extras like Altered Beast and even Phantasy Star from the Master System await players. Dude, Phantasy Star! 3D dungeons! Vehicles! And who is that over there? Shinobi? Oh, yeah! Okay, you get it.

Streets of Rage 2
All three Streets of Rage games are also in the collection. That should take a little of the edge off while waiting for word on whether Sega will give a fan-made remake their blessing as opposed to the current cease and desist.
 


4) Fallout: New Vegas

By the time you finish New Vegas, PSN might be back up. If it isn't, you can always try and play it again and make new choices to see where they will take you. Thanks to an extensive set of consequences throughout the game, players have plenty to experiment with and a number of endings to experience. The apocalypse might be a little buggy, but it certainly can provide a nice fix for those who want to blaze through another episode of Fallout with subatomic weapons.

Fallout: New Vegas
Head into the wastes, meet more unusual people, and make new friends! And then loot their bodies for more ammo and Fancy Lad snack cakes.
 


5) Mass Effect 2

BioWare's space opera is a great way to spend the downtime. The PS3 version includes the previously released DLC for the Xbox 360 on the disc. Although you might not be able to use your Cerberus pass or download any new content via PSN, the main game by itself is worth blasting on through to get ready for Mass Effect 3. Even if you have already gone through the game once, it might be a good time to put some extra oomph into that save you want to import.

Mass Effect 2
There's plenty to explore and shoot in Mass Effect 2. Oh, and planets to scan for resources, but no one wants to talk about that.


A lot of other games outside this list are available to boot up on the PS3 for solo play ranging from Uncharted 2, Dead Space 2, or Batman: Arkham Asylum. Even Demon's Souls is a contender, though, it does feel pretty lonely wandering its world without seeing the familiar shadows and messages from other players.

As for me, I'm hitting up a little Witcher on the PC to get ready for the Assassins of Kings sequel, which comes out later this month, along with closing up a few loose ends in Yakuza 4. I might not be able to enjoy saving Helghan from the ISA, but I can still feed desks and bikes through the teeth of criminal scum as Kiryu Kasuma.

 
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Comments (21)
Scott_pilgrim_avatar
May 08, 2011

I'm glad you mentioned Demon's Souls. That's what I've been playing. Not only is it more lonely, it's loads harder without being able to enlist help from Blue Phantoms!

Robsavillo
May 09, 2011

I've been playing a lot of Valkryia Chronicles lately. Finally going to push through those final tough missions!

On the Demon's Souls front, at least you needn't worry about black phantom invasion, either. And you'll be able to plan for the tendency events easier, too.

Scott_pilgrim_avatar
May 09, 2011

That's true! It does balance, but it's still creepy to not see the ghosts of other players online. It gives the game a very different "last man" feeling.

Captgoodnight_1a
May 10, 2011

You can do it! One of the nice things about Chronicles is replaying the older missions to buff up your team and to get you more familiar with their abilities.

As for Demon's Souls, I've had the same feeling as Ben did. Even w/o it, the atmosphere only becomes a bit more eerie. Can't wait for Dark Souls!

Default_picture
May 09, 2011

Thanks for this list. In a weird way, I've appreciated a little time to catch up on offline/single-player games. However, some have important patches - for example, I thought Mass Effect 2 had a patch to the save system that prevents your file from being corrupted. 

Personally, I finished the Portal 2 single-player and have been playing the Crysis 2 campaign. If the network stays down a few more weeks, maybe I can finish 3D Dot Game Heroes, FFXIII, Valkyria Chronicles (as you suggest), Heavy Rain, and all of those other games on my pile of shame. :)

Meanwhile I'm curious what will happen with Brink's release tomorrow; doesn't even seem playable offline.

Wile-e-coyote-5000806
May 09, 2011

Patches still download.  i just put in Dragon Age 2 yesterday and it updated a patch.  Apparently patches are done through a different network, perhaps by the publishers?

Default_picture
May 09, 2011

Interesting - I had no idea that patches still download. I guess I just haven't tried any that have patches available. Thanks!

Captgoodnight_1a
May 10, 2011

I feel the same way that you do, especially if there's a dry period where there aren't that many games to look forward to. It just gives me a chance to catch up on everything else, gaming or otherwise. For example, my RPG backlog is just awful. Resonance of Fate is still egging me on to finish it.

As for the patches, that's what I've been hearing, too. I tried out my Japanese profile on my PS3 and while I couldn't log in, it did pull down a Home patch when I tried to access it from there. At least that's a little good news if the patch servers are still fine.

Default_picture
May 09, 2011

That Sega Collection looks interesting.  That's the one old school console that I no longer have...I wouldn't mind reliving some of those Sonic games and whatever else may be on the disc.

Captgoodnight_1a
May 10, 2011

It's great stuff! I still have my Genesis, but it saves me from having to hook all of that back up again, though I'm still tempted to if only to get back into a bit of Ghouls 'n Ghosts. Just jumping back into the original Sonic was hugely fun.

Demian_-_bitmobbio
May 09, 2011

I *really* need to play Valkyria Chronicles.

Robsavillo
May 09, 2011

You haven't yet?! I'm surprised.

Captgoodnight_1a
May 10, 2011

Go for it!

230340423
May 09, 2011

I couldn't get into Valkyria Chronicles. I should give it another shot, I suppose, but I don't think it'll be any different. I am, however, spending some quality time with my FemShep in Mass Effect 2. Damn, that game is good.

May 09, 2011

Excellent list. I have been replaying Valkyria Chronicles recently (fourth playthrough, I think), and still enjoying it. I'm glad it made your list. I hope the third game makes it over (come on, Sega, don't let me down). 

Shoe_headshot_-_square
May 09, 2011

I need to go back to Valkyria someday. I lost momentum because of other games. Plus, when I got to the part where I had to recruit a ton of troops and worry about their relationships with each other, I got a little intimidated, I must admit.

Itsame_
May 09, 2011

I used to love games like that, but lately I  have been afraid to commit time to any JRPGs... mostly because the 'western' ones have become so appealing!

Robsavillo
May 09, 2011

That mechanic is actually much more streamlined than it seems at first glance...all you really need to do is ensure that each squad member has at least two or three connections to other soldiers. The more overlap, the better, as you'll be able to consistently field a more diverse team and benefit from the relationship bonuses.

But it's really not crucial to get deeply into this part...just pump up your scouts -- those units are way overpowered!

Captgoodnight_1a
May 10, 2011

That's definitely a problem I have with RPGs whenever another game comes around that I also want to get into. Going back to a previous example, I had to relearn Resonance of Fate's gun gameplay all over again when I came back to it a month or so later. Still, even after getting used to it again, it still leaves me with the feeling that there's so much more to learn.

Rob's advice is on the mark. Pump up those Scouts and revisit the older missions for extra XP and to get a feel for the game again. Take it a mission at a time every now and then, pace yourself back into it and before you know it, you've saved the world! I'll admit, I paced it on my own because I just didn't want it to end. Then I found out about the game plus feature...

Trit_warhol
May 09, 2011

While I've spent most of this time playing the Gears of War 3 beta, I've also made a big dint (and plan on finishing) Crysis 2's single player campaign on PS3.

Solid single player experiences are indeed the silver lining for Sony's dark cloud.

Captgoodnight_1a
May 10, 2011

Glad I could provide some ideas for the downtime, but more importantly, hear how everyone else is making the most of it!

No Yakuza love, though?! Awww...

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